An elderly Israeli hostage recently released by Hamas says that when she was kidnapped and taken to Gaza, she was beaten and injured, but during her two weeks of captivity in the Palestinian territory, she experienced 'good treatment.' Yochavit Lifshitz, 85, is one of two elderly women who were freed late on Monday, October 23. About 220 people, including the husbands of these two women, are still hostages of Hamas. Lifshitz told reporters, 'I experienced hell.' She said Hamas forces stormed their homes, beat people, and abducted both the young and the old without discrimination. Lifshitz was taken to Gaza on a motorcycle, and she described that while on the motorcycle, her legs were on one side and the rest of her body on the other, and men along the way struck her. Although they did not break her ribs, she said, 'It was painful, and breathing became difficult for me.' She also mentioned that her watch and jewelry were stolen at that time. Lifshitz said, 'When we arrived there, the first thing they told us was that they believe in the Quran and would not harm us.' A group of five from her kibbutz was held together, and a guard was with them 24 hours a day, while a doctor visited them every other day and brought necessary medications. Lifshitz stated, 'They took good care of the injured.' Lifshitz's granddaughter told Reuters that her grandmother was a peace activist who helped sick Palestinians in Gaza receive treatment in Israel. She would meet them at the border crossing and take them to the hospital. Lifshitz criticized the Israeli army for failing to protect the southern areas from the Hamas attack, saying the army did not take the threat of an attack seriously. She added that the costly security fence built to keep Hamas militants away 'did not help at all.' So far, Hamas has released four hostages. In the terrorist attacks by Hamas militants on southern Israel on October 7, at least 1,400 people, most of whom were civilians, were killed, and over 200 were taken hostage. The Emir of Qatar criticized giving a 'green light' to Israel. Macron, in a meeting with Herzog, stated that France stands with Israel. Images of the Hamas attack on the people of Israel were shown; Khaled Mashal stated that civilians were not the target. Confirmation of the release of two other hostages; Hamas released two Israeli women. Israel: 308 soldiers killed and 222 people are Hamas hostages.
Released Israeli Hostage: They Said They Believe in the Quran and Would Not Harm Us
Yochavit Lifshitz, an 85-year-old Israeli woman recently released from Hamas captivity, described her ordeal and criticized the Israeli army for failing to protect against the attack. She noted that while she was beaten during her abduction, she received relatively good treatment during her captivity. This incident highlights ongoing tensions and the humanitarian impact of the conflict.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Yochavit Lifshitz, an elderly Israeli woman, was released after being held hostage by Hamas for two weeks. She described her abduction and captivity, noting both the violence during her capture and the relatively good treatment she received while in custody.
- Lifshitz criticized the Israeli army for their failure to prevent the Hamas attack.
- Approximately 220 hostages remain in Hamas captivity following the October 7 attacks.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Israel-Palestine conflict has a long history of violence and political strife, with Hamas frequently engaging in military actions against Israel. Hostage situations are common and often complicate peace negotiations.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%